Anti-Japanese War: Li Yunlong dared to attack Taiyuan

Chapter 521 The Empire Needs a Civilian General

When he saw that Kotaro Kotaro was from a commoner family and had not entered the Army University for further studies, Guizi Tianhuang frowned slightly.

In the Japanese promotion system, to become a general, one must graduate from the Army University. To break this restriction, one must be of noble birth (except for posthumous awards after death in battle).

If you are not a noble and have not attended the Army University, it is extremely rare to become a general, let alone a colonel.

However, there are exceptions to everything. Before this, the only general who was born into a civilian family and graduated from the NCO academy was Abe Nobuhide, known as the "flower of famous generals." However, he was already 49 years old when he was promoted to major general, while Kota Kota was only 33 years old.

"It's really eye-opening, Mr. Tojo. I think Kota Kotera can be promoted to major general as an exception!" Tian Huang ignored Private First Class Tojo's words and spoke directly.

Hearing this, many people in the army frowned.

"Your Majesty, he might just be lucky. Besides, he's already an exception to the rules by being a colonel and serving as a division commander. If we promote him to major general, I'm afraid it won't comply with the promotion system!"

A Japanese lieutenant general stood up and retorted. As a member of the aristocratic academic school, he had to suppress the civilian military merit faction. This loophole must not be opened.

"Your Majesty, I think this matter needs further consideration. Kodera Kouta was promoted a little too quickly. He was promoted from major to colonel just last year, and now he's promoted to general. Some people in the army will be dissatisfied!"

A group of Japanese officers stood up to oppose it. In fact, promoting a major general did not pose any threat to them.

But this loophole cannot be opened, and the reason why the young and vigorous members of the Japanese army are so radical is also related to this, because the way to climb up has been blocked by these old guys.

Hearing the objections from the group of generals below, Guizi Tianhuang suddenly stood up and said: "Baga, I know what you are thinking, but have you ever thought about the benefits of promoting Kota Kotaro?"

"Kota Kotera was born into a commoner family, just like Abe Nobuhide. He became a general step by step through his military exploits!"

"The empire needs a general like this now. The common people need an idol, the people need a goal, and the lower-level soldiers need hope for promotion."

"We must make Kodera Kouta an idol for the common people of the Empire and a role model for the young officers. We must encourage more young men of the Empire to join the army and show them that as long as they fight bravely on the battlefield, they can become a general!"

Hearing the words of the devil Tianhuang, all those who had originally opposed him lowered their heads. Then Tojo Hideki was the first to bow and said, "Your Majesty is wise!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" After seeing this scene, the other army generals also bowed.

With these words, Kota Kotera's promotion to major general was finalized.

"Prepare a publicity plan and bring Kodera Kouta's family to Sakura City. I want to meet them in person. When the time comes, please invite reporters to come and report together!"

"Also, prepare a commendation for Kodera Kouta's family. I want all civilians to know that they fought bravely on the front lines. Not only can they become generals, but their families will also be taken care of by the empire!"

"Hai!"

Although there were still some Japanese who wanted to object, they all kept their mouths shut.

"Okay, anything else?"

Guizi Tianhuang asked with a frown, looking at the group of old guys below, he felt a little dissatisfied, thinking that the empire needed some fresh blood, otherwise they would just be a group of conservative people.

Now that the empire has expanded, new ideas are needed, like Yamamoto's Seven by Eight, rather than a group of idiots who only know how to oppose.

"Your Majesty, the Kwantung Army has sent us a battle plan. They plan to deploy 800,000 troops to launch a spring counterattack against Siberia and recapture Chita, Kurkutsk, and other areas!"

Upon hearing this, the navy stood up and objected, "We just lost it and now we're going to counterattack, only to be taken back by the Russians again? Aren't the lives of Imperial soldiers important? You've occupied such a large area, and it's all frozen, making development very difficult!"

"Your Majesty, why not increase naval investment and vigorously develop Odalia? It has the world's highest quality iron ore..."

The Navy Minister's words immediately received support from a large number of Japanese naval generals, who all spoke in agreement.

However, Private First Class Tojo said slowly, "Your Majesty, this battle plan is different from the past. This time, the Kwantung Army intends to completely drive the Russian troops out of Western Siberia and occupy the natural fortifications of the Eastern Sayan Mountains and Western Sayan Mountains!"

"Then, we'll build fortifications and fortresses in areas like the Eastern Sayan Mountains and the Western Sayan Mountains. This will prevent a winter counterattack by the Soviets. The Kwantung Army failed to hold Chita and other areas this time because we captured them too late. By the time we completely occupied these areas, winter had already begun, making it impossible to build a large number of defensive positions!"

"This will give the Mao Bear a chance to retake these areas!"

"Once the Empire completes the construction of fortifications in the Eastern Sayan Mountains and Western Sayan Mountains, the Russians will not be able to set foot on this land. The entire Siberian land will become the Empire's territory!"

After Private First Class Tojo finished speaking, he turned his head to look at the Navy Minister and snorted coldly, "Although Odalia is good, it is a long way from the Empire, and the infrastructure in the interior is very poor!"

"But Siberia is different. Although it has winter for half the year, it is rich in resources and is close to the four eastern provinces. As long as the empire completely occupies this area, the people of the four eastern provinces can be relocated there and cultivate this land."

"The Russians have built a lot of infrastructure for us here, and the Trans-Siberian Railway serves as a transportation hub!"

"The resources obtained here can be quickly transported back to the empire and the four eastern provinces. Even if they can't be mined for half a year, the efficiency is far higher than that of Odalia!"

"And Odalia uses sea transportation. Your navy can't guarantee the safety of the route yet, right? I remember American submarines are still attacking Imperial merchant ships!"

"So, Your Majesty, I believe that Western Siberia is the future of the Empire, and there is no problem with the Kwantung Army's battle plan!"

After hearing this, Guizi Tianhuang picked up the battle plan and read it carefully. After reading it, the Minister of the Navy gritted his teeth in dissatisfaction, but had no way to refute it.

Private Tojo was right. Although Odalia was rich, it had natural shortcomings and was too far away from the Japanese homeland.

"Your Majesty, our navy also has a combat plan this year. We are preparing to launch a landing operation against the Americans this year!"

The Navy Minister gritted his teeth and told Yamamoto about his crazy plan of seven times eight.

Tian Huang, who was originally looking at the army's plan, trembled slightly when he heard it. A plan to land on the Americans?

"What about the battle plan?"

"It's still being worked on, and it should be finished in the next few days!"

After hearing this, Guizi Tianhuang waved his hand and said, "Send it over after it's formulated, and we'll discuss it at the next imperial meeting!"

"Hai!"

After the Japanese Navy Minister said this, he glanced at Private First Class Tojo.

The reason for handing over this plan was not actually for implementation, but to compete for military funds.

Once Tianhuang agrees to the Kwantung Army's combat plan, the army's military expenditure will inevitably increase, and the army's increased military expenditure can only be deducted from the navy.

Chapter 522 It’s my turn to get rich

"Spring battle plan?"

On a train from Siberia to Khabarovsk, Ningji Okamura looked at the telegram in his hand and slowly put it aside.

"The Kwantung Army is truly crazy. They're going to keep fighting right after a defeat?"

Okamura Neiji had a negative impression of the Kwantung Army. He was a member of the Isshikikai, a group of graduates from the Japanese Military Academy from the 15th to the 18th classes. They advocated for respecting tradition in army personnel arrangements, prioritizing graduates from the Army University.

Moreover, their goal is not to lead troops outside, but to work in the Army Ministry and the General Staff Headquarters.

He was not from the same faction as the Imperial Way faction of the Kwantung Army.

The so-called Imperial Way faction advocated fascism through assassinations, coups, and other means, using extreme means to eliminate all those who disagreed with them. At the same time, they emphasized that the emperor should rule the country personally. Their behavior was very radical, and most of them were young military officers who liked to rebel against their superiors.

It can be seen from the propositions of the two factions that Ningji Okamura was a conservative who upheld the old traditions of the Japanese, while the Kwantung Army belonged to the radical faction.

This was also one of the reasons why the Japanese headquarters was unable to mobilize the Kwantung Army later. Only the Japanese emperor himself gave an order to mobilize the Kwantung Army. As for the Army Ministry and the General Staff Headquarters of the headquarters, the Kwantung Army basically did not obey their orders.

Moreover, when Okamura Neiji was the deputy chief of staff of the Kwantung Army, he was marginalized everywhere and finally had to serve as a military attaché to the puppet state of Manchukuo. Okamura Neiji felt that it was an insult to him to be the deputy chief of staff of the Kwantung Army and serve as a military attaché in a puppet regime.

"Commander, when I report to the headquarters this time, I think the Kwantung Army might be planning to take action against you and want you to take the blame!"

Ningji Okamura's adjutant looked at Okamura with a frown on his face and reminded him in a low voice.

"I know someone will be held responsible for our defeat, and I'm ready!"

After saying this, Ningji Okamura turned his head and looked out the window. It was a vast expanse of white. However, it was because of this heavy snow that more than 300,000 Japanese devils were buried.

"Commander, it's time for dinner. Would you like something to eat?"

Just when Ningji Okamura was lost in thought, the adjutant asked again.

Ningji Okamura sighed, looked at the snow outside and said, "Let's eat hot pot. It's also a great pleasure in the world with the snow!"

Hearing what Ningji Okamura said, the adjutant beside him bowed and turned around to notify the dining car to be prepared.

The Second Column of Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning and Chahar.

"Commander, the battle on the front lines is over. Why are we still hanging out? The Japanese trains carrying supplies have been stopped for two days!"

Yang Wanli followed Kong Jie and stood on a high point, observing the Trans-Siberian Railway below.

"The early bird catches the worm. When Ding Wei was blowing up a bridge a while ago, he ran into a Japanese convoy and ended up capturing a Japanese major general. Isn't that infuriating?"

After Kong Jie finished speaking, he glared at Yang Wanli fiercely again.

Why did he fight so hard? It was because his subordinate Yang Wanli had captured a Japanese lieutenant general, and he had not made any great military achievements except for injuring the Japanese prince Higashikuni Naruhiko.

Kong Jie held his breath, not to prove how great he was, but to prove that if others could do it, he could do it too.

"Commander, it's just a Japanese major general. Didn't our column capture a Japanese lieutenant general?"

Yang Wanli said calmly that now Yang Wanli is the deputy commander of the Second Column.

"That was caught by you kid. I haven't caught it myself yet."

As Kong Jie spoke, he observed the railway: "Something is wrong!"

Hearing Kong Jie talking about serious matters, Yang Wanli also put away his usual joking expression, staring at the railway below and agreed: "Something is indeed wrong. It snowed yesterday, and this railway looks like it has just been cleared. There must be a train passing by."

Kong Jie nodded and said, "Notify the blasting team to prepare! I have a feeling a big fish will pass by today!"

"Yes!"

At this time, there was a bridge about fifteen kilometers behind the ambush site where Kong Jie was preparing.

Ding Wei looked at the repaired bridge with a telescope and said, "These little devils are really quick. We just blew up the bridge a few days ago, and now they have hastily repaired it. Something is wrong, very wrong!"

Beside Ding Wei, Yuan Ping, the political commissar of the First Column and the former political commissar of the New Second Regiment, nodded in agreement and said, "Look, the Japs are not only repairing the bridge, but they also have people standing guard and exploring the way ahead!"

"Looks like there's a big fish!"

Ding Wei put down the telescope and spoke slowly.

"Isn't it big enough that we captured a major general a few days ago?"

Hearing this, Ding Wei waved his hand and said, "He's just a major general. Is it a big deal for our army to capture a major general now? Those guys in the special operations regiment can capture a major general every time they go out on a mission. As for Zhang Yingcai and Xiao Wanshi, have they ever returned empty-handed?"

Yuan Ping thought for a moment and said, "I remember when we first arrived, the special operations battalion went to attack the Hailar Fortress, but I don't think they captured a major general, but only a colonel."

"The team led by Yu Zhiqian interrogated the commander of the Japanese mixed brigade for a long time, asking where their brigade commander was!"

"Hahahaha... Because of this incident, I heard that Yu Zhigan is now looking for the Japanese headquarters everywhere."

After the two of them finished joking, Ding Wei shifted his body and said, "Kong Jie's Second Column also captured a Japanese lieutenant general, named Hengshan or something. We can't compare with the Special Operations Battalion, let alone the First Regiment, which directly captured the Japanese Ishii, and Shen Quan captured the Japanese general!"

"We can't beat Li Yunlong, nor can we beat Kong Jie and the others. Have you seen the bounty offered by the Japanese recently?"

Old Yuan shook his head. He usually didn't care about these things. Who would care about how much their head was worth?

"Shen Quan, Xiao Wanshi, and Zhang Yingcai all have higher bounties than us. If we don't work harder, Kong Jie will soon catch up with us!"